ST. THOMAS’ ZONE

4. Ryde Town Hall and Theatre. An opportunity for public purchase as an investment asset (yellow colour coding is used for all such projects). The work of the Ryde Empty Buildings Group under the title ‘Creative Ryde’ has clearly established a justification for public acquisition and regeneration through makerspace and affiliated industries. Ryde Town Council continues to explore this possibility through lottery funding. A partnership with the IWC commercial property acquisition strategy, or a locally created version of it, provides an alternative, or complementary approach (potentially combining with Historic England via the HSHAZ work). The importance of active and visible intervention to save, revive and actively and positively utilise Ryde’s critical cultural capital cannot be overstated. The town hall is one of four such opportunities identified in the project network.

5. St. Thomas’ Square. The centre of the town, marking old and new boundaries between upper and lower Ryde, the home of the town council, and a prominent civic space. The cultural programme to be delivered through HSHAZ may offer an opportunity to programme new activity and spectacle and better draw out a coherent space that incorporates the pedestrian crossings the plaza and the town hall area.